PICTOU COUNTY – When it comes to your health, it’s a matter of the heart. That’s how the Pictou County Heart and Stroke Support Group (PCHSSG) and dozens of volunteers feel.
About a dozen ‘stations’ were set up at the gymnasium of the Pictou County Wellness Centre on Saturday to assist young and old to living health and heart conscious lives.
“We’ve had a better than expected turnout,” said PCHSSG president John Dykstra who noted there was a line up at the door when the event started at 10 a.m.
Nurses, health practitioners and other volunteers came out to provide information on body-mass index, blood pressure testing, emergency health services and holistic healing.
It was the first year the holistic health station was present, set up by Dr. Gabrielle Kropp.
“Some people come to us as a preventative measure, others to take an approach in combination with prescription medications,” said Kropp.
Other stations were present to deal directly with stress prevention and how stress in our daily lives can set the stage for a heart attack or stroke.
Ray and Daphine Webster of Munroe Ave. said it was refreshing to see so many different tips to stay healthy and happy.
“We both have had heart problems in the past so it was important to come out to this event,” said Ray.
Attendees were given a report card and grade after visiting each station which was reviewed by a nurse who then gave an assessment.
“Ray and I were pleased to see that things are good with us,” said Daphine. “We try and stay active by walking and will be coming to the Wellness Centre more often.”
The PCHSSG is a group for cardiac patients, stroke survivors and their partners who gather together on the second Thursday of each month from September through June for information sharing, shared concerns, guest speakers and social activities.
john.brannen@ngnew.ca
On Twitter: @NGNewsJohn
